Chapter 49: 49 Earn more and more money
In all fairness, apart from this recent issue with the silver, Ye Gaosheng had always treated Ye Jiu sincerely well in the past; everything of value at home was given to Ye Jiu, and he had never complained about Mrs. Ye’s partiality toward Ye Jiu.
Ye Jiu believed that this time too, Ye Gaosheng was genuinely worried about the family’s hard times, which was why he thought of using this silver.
When Ye Jiu said this, it made Ye Gaosheng feel even more remorseful. He patted Ye Jiu’s chubby hands, repeatedly saying, “Good…”
Although Ye Jiu had agreed about the silver, Mrs. Ye still felt uneasy in her heart. She had always been protective, and it was clear her daughter was at a disadvantage, so it was no wonder her demeanor was far from pleasant.
Ye Jiu was earning money to make their family’s life better, not to upset her parents. Seeing Mrs. Ye , she had no choice but to continue appeasing her, “Mother, don’t be angry. It’s just fifty taels of silver, not even worth fussing over. In the future, your daughter will earn much more money to honor you.”
“Oh, my daughter is the most sensible, far better than those ungrateful types,” Mrs. Ye said, her heart swelling with relief.
Ye Jiu felt embarrassed; if she didn’t know her brothers were indeed Mrs. Ye’s own children, she might have suspected that Mrs. Ye was actually a stepmother.
Yet it was strange to think about: Mrs. Ye’s marriage had been sabotaged by the Li family, and she had only secured her position in this family by having several sons.
Under such circumstances, if she were to favor anyone, it should have been her sons. Yet she showed little affection toward her sons and doted excessively on her own daughter, who in others’ eyes, was less valuable.
Ye Jiu herself found this matter utterly incredible.
Mrs. Ye, cheered up by Ye Jiu’s cajoling, still spoke sternly to Ye Gaosheng, “This time, I’m letting it slide because it’s for the sake of the fourth’s wedding, but let me tell you, Ye, this kind of thing better not happen again.”
Ye Gaosheng, faced with Mrs. Ye’s remarks, turned ashen and dared not retort.
Suddenly, Mrs. Ye shouted to someone outside, “Fourth, come here a minute.”
“What’s up, Mother? Is there something you need me to do? Just command me.” Ye Gaosheng came in from outside, rubbing his hands from the cold and went to stand beside the stove, but Mrs. Ye slapped his hands away.
“Stop your chatter and stand aside; I have something to say.” Mrs. Ye still held some affection for this youngest son, but this affection couldn’t compare to what she felt for Ye Jiu.
“Yes, yes, as long as you don’t hit me, I’ll stand,” Ye Gaosheng obediently stood aside to be scolded.
“Fourth, did you know that today your little sister made a hundred taels of silver selling medicine?” Mrs. Ye went straight to the point.
“What? She made a hundred taels of silver? When did this happen?” Ye Gaosheng was so startled by the mention of a hundred taels of silver that he almost jumped up.
Afterward, Mrs. Ye recounted everything about Ye Jiu encountering the old man and selling medicine today from beginning to end, then couldn’t help but complain, “I told you to keep an eye on your sister, yet she made a hundred taels of silver right under your nose and you had no clue. You really are thick-headed.”
Seeing Ye Gaosheng’s bewildered face, Ye Jiu couldn’t help but speak up for him, “Mother, at that time, fourth brother was selling chickens and eggs. It was Wenqing and I who went to the pharmacy, and I told Wenqing not to mention it.”